Thanks for your kind responses, everyone (interesting idea about the opera too). I hope GDT reads my original post too -- at least so that he can consider my suggestion. I'm sure we'd all agree that it would be fantastic if a series of movies about the events I mentioned did become a real project at some point. Admit it folks, you're quietly getting a little bit excited just thinking about it.

Well, if Christopher Tolkien is unlikely to participate in the scriptwriting for any films, then (assuming Christopher doesn't violently object to the notion of any cinematic dramatisations full-stop, even if he has some reservations about the suitability) perhaps appropriate alternative writers could be the bestselling fantasy authors George R.R. Martin of The Song of Ice and Fire or Stephen Donaldson of Thomas Covenant fame. Both authors have openly acknowledged the fact that they have been heavily influenced by Tolkien, something which is already very obvious to anyone familiar with their books. I bet they'd happily jump at the chance if GDT & Peter Jackson ever approached them about requesting their services.

Given the very "adult" theme of Martin and Donaldson's own epics, especially the focus on some of the really nasty aspects of human behaviour, they could be particularly adept at dealing with the very dark subject matter of the escalating corruption of Numenor and its eventually disastrous fate; and as we all know, in the LOTR universe it ends up being quite literally an earth-shattering tragedy. Martin already has experience as a screenwriter, and his award-winning books are in the process of being adapted for television by HBO.

Stephen Donaldson and George R.R. Martin both have their own websites, including contact details (Martin actually has a blog too), so maybe someone should suggest this to them.....